Bottle closure retainer



Dec. 1l, 1945. w. w. MAYs BOTTLE` CLOSURE RETAINER Filed Dec.

Wilbur? W M ugs,

Patented Dec. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a i 2,390,724 f k i BOTTLE CLosURE nE'rMNER n Wilburt-W. Mays,` S` teelton, Pa." Application December 1, 19443.y Serial No. 4512,507`

s claims. icl; '215-985 Y The present invention relates' to the art of bottle closures and it particularly has for its object to provide a simple, effective and inexpensive means for preventing unauthorized removal of the corks or Stoppers from liquor bottles, medicine bottles, etc.

Generally the invention includes a device that may betted over the neck and mouth of a bottle and secured to kthe-neck and over the cork or stopper, with very little eiort.

`Other objects will in part be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, all of which will be describedbin the following detailed description, and then be pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a bottle neck and my invention placed thereon, the parts being in the released or inoperative position.

Fig.

Fig. sleeve.

Fig. sleeve.

Fig. sleeve.

Fie. sleeve.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of one half of the neck clamp element.

Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of one of the cap halves.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in the operative position.

In the drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, I indicates a bottle whose neck 3 has an outside annular bead 2. The usual stopper or cork is indicated at 4.

The device which comprises my invention includes a bottom inner sleeve 5 externally threaded (left hand) as at 6 and having diametrically opposite bifurcated brackets 9 at the lower end of the sleeve. The upper end of the sleeve 5 is reduced as at 1. The part 1 is externally threaded at 8. The lower inner sleeve 5 rests on the bead 2 as shown.

An upper inner sleeve 26 having an internally threaded portion 29 i'lts on the reduced extension 'I and is externally threaded as at 28 (right hand). It also has diametrically opposite re- 2 is a top plan view of the securing ring.

3 is a top plan view of the upper outer 4 is a top plan view of the lower outer 5 is a top plan view of the lower inner 6 is a top plan view of the upper inner cesses 2I-in which thevarms 24 are pivoted at 25. The arms 24A are preferably externally threaded with threads registering with `the threads 28 when the parts are i-n their operative positions (Fig. 9).

Pivoted at III in the brackets 9 are the arms II which carry the'half-collar clamping elements I3 indicates a lower outer sleeve whose internal threads IE engage the external threads 6 of the lower inner sleeve 5. The sleeve I3 has external splines I4 which engage the grooves I8 inthe upper outer sleeve Il. The sleeve I'I has a flange-I9 at its upper end with an annular row of` holes 29 to cooperate with like holes 2IV in an internally threaded ring 22 that is threaded on the inner upper sleeve 26.

vThe arms 24 carry cover members 23 which, when in operative position, iit together over the mouth ofthe bottle prevent access to the cork 4. l The sleeve 29 has a ange 3I at its lower end tolimit the lower travel of the ring 22 on the sleeve.

YWith the parts in the Vposition of Fig. l, in order to close the covers 23 over the bottle mouth and yretain them in place, the ring 22 is screwed upward to the position shown in Fig, 9; then sleeves I3 and I'I are screwed upwardly to position the clamps I2 together as a ring around the bottle neck below the bead 2; the ange 3| serving as a stop for vthe sleeve I3. The flange I5 en the sleeve i3 engages the short ends of the pivoted arms II, when the sleeve I3 is screwed up to the position of Fig. 9, to force the clamps I2 into gripping engagement with the bottle and hold them there below the bead 2. Next the sleeve I1 is raised until its flange I9 engages the ring 22, whereupon the loop of the padlock 39 is placed through aligning holes 20, 2| and locked, thus preventing opening of the device.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it is thought the construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a bottle neck having an external bead and a stopper: cover members; a support embracing the bottle neck to which support said members are hinged; a bottle neck gripper carried by said support; and means mounted on said support for applying said gripper into holding contact with said neck below said bead;I means for holding said cover members closed; and means for securing said gripper applying means unmovably in a gripper applying position.

2. The combination with a bottle neck having an external bead and a stopper: cover members; a support embracing the bottle neck to which support said members are hinged; a bottle neck gripper carried by said support; and means mounted on said support for applying said gripper into holding contact with said neck below said bead; -means mounted on said support and movablefto a position to closesaid cover members; and means for securing said last named means and said gripper applying means in a position to hold the gripper applied and the cover closed.

3. The combination with a bottle neck having an external bead and a stopper: cover members;

brackets, said half-collars being shaped to embrace the bottle neck below the bead thereof; a lower outer sleeve threaded on said lower element and movable thereon within the limits of the length of said lower element, said lower outer sleeve having means to engage said arms to apply said half-collars to the bottle neck; an upper outer sleeve mounted on said lower outer sleeve telescopically, said lower outer sleeve andsaid lupperouter *sleeve* having; a splinegroovev connection andlsaid Aupper Konter sleeve having a ilange; cover members swingably mounted on said upper element; a ring threaded on said upper element for holding said cover members closed, said ring and said ange having holespositioned to register with one another Y to receive the loop of a padlock when said ring a support embracing the bottle neck tol which support said members are hinged; a bottle neck gripper carried by said support; and means mounted onsaid support for applying said gripperv into hold-ing contact with said neckfbelow said bead; mea-ns mounted on said support andV movable to a position to close said cover members; and means for securing said last named means and said gripper applying meansA in a position to hold the gripper applied and the cover closed, said securing means including a lock.-

4. A device of the class described' including; a lower inner' sleeveadapted to encircle a bottle neck; an upper inner sleeve secured to s aid lower inner sleeve and also adapted to encircle the bottle neck; at least onel cover member mounted on 'said upper inner sleeve for movement over the mouth of a bottle; a bottle neck gripper mounted on said lower inner sleeve; means mounted'on said inner lower sleeve for operating said gripperA to clamp and release, respectively, its grip ona bottle neck; and means to secure said last named means and said cover member in their respective bottle-closed positions for purposes described.

5. Means for preventing removal of a stopper from a bottle lhaving a neck with a bead below the mouth of the bottle: including; a sleeve shaped to encircle the bottle neck above and rest on the bead, said sleeve including a lower element having an external left hand thread and an upper element having an external right hand thread; brackets carriedl by said lower element'a bottle neck gripper comprising two'halfcollars carried by arms which are pivoted to said and saidV flangey are adjacent one another for purposes described.

6. Means for preventing removal of a stopper from a bottle having'a neck with a beadbelow the -mouthv of `the bottle: includili'iA a sleeve shaped to encircle the bottle neck above and rest onthe bead, said sleeve including a lower yelement having an external left hand thread and an upper element having an external right hand thread; rbrackets carried by said lower` element; av bottle neck gripper comprisingV twohalf-collars carried by arms which are pivoted to said brackets,V saidY half-collars being' shaped `to embrace the bottle neck below thebead thereof; ia lower outer sleeve threaded on said lower element and movable thereon Ywithin the limits of Vthele'ngth of said lowe'r` element, said lower outer sleeve having meansto engage said arms to apply said half-collars to the bottle neck; an upper outer sleeve mounted on said lower outersleeve telescopically, sai-d lcwerfouter sleeve andrsaid upper outer sleeve having ,aY spline-groove connection and said upper outerv sleeve'having ya 'ange; cover members swingably mounted on saidupper element; a ring threaded on said upper element for holding said cover members closed, said ring and said flange having` holes positioned to register with one another to receive the loop of" a padlock when said Yring and said flange .areadia- 'cent one another for purposes describedjsaid cover members havingthreaded armsandisai'd ring being adapted to screw onto said arms when the cover members are closed to hold the'cover Y members in closed position. 

